A human ORDERLY lazily shelves MEDICALSUPPLIES and turns off EQUIPMENT, while we see various cleaning and sanitizing tasks being performed by MECHANICALARMS from the computerized perspective of a DROID.

We see command lines in Binary scroll across the screen, indicating com-link traffic.

Suddenly, silent EXPLOSIONS begin lighting up the SHIPYARDS, as seen from the nearby bank of WINDOWS. The ORDERLY looks up from his work, drops a MEDPAC in astonishment, and turns in terror toward DD-0X.

DD-0X

“Sealing pressure doors.”

The BLASTDOORS slam closed in an instant. The lights begin to flicker as the line of explosions grow closer and closer.

DD-0X

“Enter the Bacta tank and shield your head
with your arms. I will …”

As the ORDERLY leaps over the edge of the BACTATANK, ceiling tiles begin to fall as a rumble begins to shake the MEDBAY. A huge flash of light overloads DD-0X’s sensors and the image goes to static.

FADE TO BLACK

OVERLAY – DIGITALDISPLAY

“Error 77.1.Alpha, Reset Req. Format.”

SCENETWO

FADE IN

INT. — DESTROYEDMEDBAYCHAMBER IN DEEPSPACE – NIGHT

There are very few lights working, but they illuminate DD-0X’s view of the now-ruined MEDBAY. The ORDERLY crawls into view. He is disheveled, unshaven, and gaunt. He is having trouble breathing.

A string of command lines runs down in our field of view, showing a series of Binary instructions. The image pixelates and dims.

DD-0X

“I can still tend to your needs for another four
hours, sir. If you allow me to stay active, I…
can… induuuuuce… coooooma…”

FADE TO BLACK

OVERLAY – DIGITALDISPLAY

“Error S.D.Ord66.Alpha, Reset Req. MemLeak. Format.”

SCENETHREE

FADE IN

INT. — CARGOBAYJUNKPILE – DAY

The digital image glitches in and out, focusing and unfocusing at random, as a MECHANIC’s human face comes into view. He is a blond human with a thin moustache and touches of graying hair. His WIFE, a Kiffar, stands behind him, handing him various TOOLS. Their voices seem synthesized, at first.

MECHANIC

“…but these old power banks always kept a bit
of a latent charge, so there could be a chance…”

WIFE

“Nat, he’s lighting up! You did it, you clever
man, you.”

MECHANIC

“Ha! Welcome back to the land of the living,
Scraps. How about that?”

Diagnostic images start to appear, overlayed over the faces of the smiling couple, who kiss, briefly. DD-0X tests his appendages, revealing dust and cobwebs attached to him.

MECHANIC

“He’s a remodel of an old DD-13. They used to
call ’em Galactic Choppers. Cyberlimbs and
amputations and such. The story was Darth Vader
himself had Ubrikkian Steamworks discontinue the
line after he grew angry with what they did to
him.”

WIFE

“Well, I hope you can work your miracles and get
him functional. Weddings are expensive, after all.”

MECHANIC

(in mock astonishment) “You’d make me sell an
antique like this? We could use a medic in the
house!”

WIFE

“I’m your medic, husband. Now let’s find an
adapter and see what’s left in there.”

FADE TO BLACK

OVERLAY – DIGITALDISPLAY

“Low-Power Mode, ScrnOut 4.4.1. MemLeak. Format.”

SCENEFOUR

FADE IN

EXT. — RICHLYADORNEDORNAMENTALGARDENS – DAY

Two Kuati aristocrats stroll through the garden paths, each holding a CRYSTALGLASS full of sparkling wine. From DD-0X’s perspective, he follows behind them carefully balancing a SILVERTRAY full of tiny, beautifully arranged FOODS. The droid stays a few paces away.

FEMALEARISTOCRAT

“I’m certain you’ve noticed the new addition to
my collection, yes?”

MALEARISTOCRAT

“The droid? Oh, it has quite the industrial look.
I presume it has a Kuati connection? You’re known
for your insight into antiques.”

FEMALEARISTOCRAT

“Kuat, of course, had many subsidaries. The
Ubrikkian conglomerate was one, back in the time
of the Tech Union, if you remember your history.”

MALEARISTOCRAT

“The vehicle manufacturers, yes.”

FEMALEARISTOCRAT

“Quite. They dabbled in droids. Terrible
financial decision. They were not known for
their delicacy or repoire at the bedside. They
even had a line of administrator droids called
‘Slavemasters,’ if you can believe it.”

MALEARISTOCRAT

“Mu-haw! Stuff and nonsense.”

They stop at an artistic BENCH and the FEMALE drapes herself along it.

FEMALEARISTOCRAT

“In any case, they’re quite rare. Working
models even more so. This one belonged to a
descendant of The Seventh Family, according to
the Old Imperial records. Quite an exciting find,
given that it was present during the sabotage
event in the shipyards.”

MALEARISTOCRAT

“Fascinating. And speaking of The Seventh
Family… have you approached them about a trade
of some kind? They’re always willing to bend over
backward for connections to their fading line.”

FEMALEARISTOCRAT

“Oh, I’ve a plan to leverage it, yes. In truth,
I asked you here today to propose that you make
overtures, if you’d be interested. There’s a
particular matriarch princess who’s coming of age,
and your charms might be of some profit, yes?”

They raise their GLASSES to one another, while medical sensor data records the MALE’s physical responses to the situation, indicating the keywords of ‘Anxiety: High,’ and ‘Muscular Tic.’

The FEMALE smiles slyly at DD-0X.

FADE TO BLACK

OVERLAY – DIGITALDISPLAY

“Error CORR-MEMDUMP, Reset Req. MemLeak. Format.”

SCENEFIVE

FADE IN

INT. — MEDICALTRIAGECHAMBER – NIGHT

A troop of Imperial KNIGHTS, fresh from battle, rush into the Triage Chamber carrying an injured PATIENT on a HOVER-GURNEY and shouting.

KNIGHT-CORPORAL

“Medic! There was an explosion! Get me a
damned Medic, now!”

DD-0X leaps into action, moving to the side of the PATIENT who is missing half his face and much of his body. We see a slew of diagnostic data stream over the images as he erupts into a screaming fit.

DD-0X

“His adrenaline levels are too high for
anesthetics to take effect. Familiar speech
patterns may be helpful. I must operate without
delay.”

KNIGHT-ERRANT

“Hogram! Hogram Chalk! Can you hear me?
You’ve been in a terrible accident. Harness
your will and focus, damn you! Seek the shadowed
line. Focus. Serenity in storm.”

The PATIENT seems to ease into a trance-like state, but his eyes are wild as DD-0X begins rapidly cutting away burnt ARMOR and ruined flesh. MANIPULATORS and ARMS implant CYBERNETICPIECES, stitching them into the bloodied wounds.

PATIENT

(chant-like) “I am a Knight of the Empire,
protector of the Emperor in the Light. The
Force is mine, my blade, my armoooaaaargh!”
(screaming)

DD-0X

“Sir, please remain still. The damage is
extensive. I’m going to have to be… creative.
Do I have your permission to attempt a novel
procedure?”

PATIENT

“Do it, you bastard machine. Do your worst.
The Force is Mine.”

FADE TO BLACK

OVERLAY – DIGITALDISPLAY

“MEM-Wipe, Prog79%. Format.”

VOICEOVERONLY

CHALK

“You saved my life once, Dox. And I am grateful,
in a sense, for I have served my Emperor in ways
other than what I was. Still…”

Lines of code fill the black image and pieces begin to vanish, one by one.

CHALK

“I’m deleting your memory, now. Where you’re
going, you cannot know anything of consequence.
I’m leaving enough to do your duty. And I must
be thorough.”

Faint after-images of other scenes flare to life before disintegrating into pixels. A status bar slides to completion.

CHALK

“You have served me more than well, Dox. I will
show my appreciation by sending you on a mission
that will put you in grave danger. A quest worthy
of a Knight. I must admit, I wish I could go in
your place… ha! Good hunting.”